Authors: Jessa Hawke
“Unfortunately, I do not have any family my dear. I was found when I was six by the alpha of my clan. Apparently my parents were part of the clan but were both killed long ago during some war with another family. My favorite food is also steak and of course the baked potato must accompany it as well. I earned my status as alpha by initiation. We live about 20 minutes from here in the same direction as Josh’s pack. My favorite color is green and I love football.” He smiled at her.
“What do you mean by initiation?”
“The alpha of our tribe did not have a son of his own. He only had a daughter named Isabelle before his mate died and he did not wish to take another. Even though he adopted me, I was not blood related and therefore I did not have rights to him passing it to me. Initiation is started with two men and continues until only one man stands. Every man in the pack must participate until there are only two standing. At the end it was only me and Isabelle’s husband left. I trained many years knowing that I would have to fight. Jason was my twelfth fighter and I was very weak. I believe that he did not want the title and he knew how much I wanted it to prove to my adopted father that I could follow in his footsteps. I wanted to make him proud so that he was proud of his decision to take me in. Jason fought hard but I don’t think his heart was in it. It was not an easy fight by any means, but in the end I was victorious and named the alpha. The fights lasted over four days. It was a grueling and hard week for the whole pack.”
She looked at him in awe. This man had come across all odds to be the victor and was very humble about it as well. She squeezed his hand and then looked to Josh and squeezed his as well. There would definitely be no choosing. She smiled as she said. “See now Xavier and I will soon have a family when the three of us join. I don’t want to hear it. I am going upstairs to pack for the week. I will be down in a couple minutes after my shower.” She didn’t wait as she walked up the stairs to the bedroom. Both men looked at each other.
“We have to tell her Xavier.”
“I know. I just don’t know how. Right now she thinks it is her choice. She is determined that she will not choose.”
“I know. I wish she didn’t have to. Although you are not my first choice as I am sure I am not yours, I do not want to lose her.”
“Nor I. I just don’t know what to do. I wish what she wanted could come true but there is no way.”
“Actually maybe there is. Listen. What do you think about this?” Josh went on to tell him of his plan as Allison took her shower.
Allison came down dressed and ready to go. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail that laid down her back. She had on short white jean shorts and a black halter top with little black flat sandals with straps. Behind her she was dragging her suitcase down the stairs and carrying another small bag on her shoulder. Both men rushed to her to take them out of her hands. She laughed when Josh took the suitcase as Xavier slung her up in his arms. They decided to travel out to Josh’s pack first and stop at Xavier’s on the way back. She sat in the middle of the front seat and looked out at the beautiful countryside. They reached a gate about an hour later. Going through the gate she looked around.
There were rows of homes made from logs and some were even reinforced tents, and she could see children running around playing. It looked like a normal housing development. She would have never known upon looking at them that these people were all wolves. The kids laughed and jumped around. They pulled up to a house on a hill and she held Xavier’s hand as she slid from the truck. She looked around and realized even though these people didn’t have huge and fancy homes, they were happy. They didn’t need the lavish surroundings that most humans needed to feel happy. They walked into the big log cabin and were instantly bombarded by people throwing questions out from all directions. She instantly felt claustrophobic and stepped back into Xavier’s arms as josh stepped in front of her. They could tell by the change in her breathing that something was wrong. They knew instantly that it was the amount of attention that they were drawing.
“Everyone calm down. Hush! Give us a couple of damn minutes to get through the door. You are scaring the shit out of her.” He stepped aside as an older woman with long flowing black hair and bright blue eyes stepped forward with her hands outstretched. The people standing around instantly hushed and silence was heard.
Allison looked up to see a beautiful woman walking towards her. She was wearing a baby blue dress that reached to the floor and flowed out at the bottom. The woman walked up to reach for both of Allison’s hands holding them in her own.
“Hello Allison. I am Esmeralda, Josh’s mother and the last reigning alpha female of the pack. It is good to finally meet you. Welcome to our home my dear. Please do not let these babbling idiots around here bother you.” She smiled kindly at her as Allison smiled back.
Allison met all of the family after that. Josh had an amazing and loving family and she instantly felt like she was accepted in the pack. They also accepted Xavier, even though he was from a different pack, like he was one of their own as well. They spent the next two days at the camp and she made her famous cupcakes for everyone. Elena and Natalia were both just as beautiful as their mother. Elena was very quiet and held herself in a regal posture. Natalia was the more carefree type of girl. She was the youngest as well and full of giggles. Allison instantly fell in love with the pack.
The day they left, Allison hugged the family goodbye and they headed to Xavier’s camp. Xavier’s people were closer to the city and had log cabins set up in rows. A woman that she assumed was Isabelle came out running when she saw him step from the truck and jumped into his arms hugging him tightly. Behind her walked a man wearing a large smile. As Xavier set her back on the ground ruffling the top of her head she sputtered at him.
“Stop that damn it. I am not a little girl anymore.”
“You will always be little to me, sis.”
She stuck her tongue out at him as she stepped back to grab the hand of the man that Allison assumed was her husband. He shook Xavier’s hand as he related news of the pack.
“Isabelle this is Allison and Josh. This is Isabelle my sister and her husband Jason. How is dad doing?”
Her smile instantly faded when she looked at him. “He is still the same. He is losing his strength even more. Come. He will be glad you are back.” She led them to a log cabin next to the large one. She walked quietly behind him holding his hand. They walked into a large living room where a man was laid back in a recliner. He had an oxygen tank hooked up to him. He looked up and as soon as he saw Xavier, and his face split into a huge smile. Holding out his hands he beckoned him to come to him.
“My son. You have returned. And you have brought a friend or two. Hello Joshua.”
“Sir. It is good to see you.”
Xavier looked between the two. “You two know each other?”
“Yes. You don’t know the family tree as well as you think you do. Joshua’s father is actually in your biological family. You see he is your mother’s cousin. It was my wish to tell you before you left because I knew that Joshua would probably be there at Allison’s house as well. I just could not with the spell I had taken. Is this lovely lady Allison?”
Both men looked at him speechless with wide eyes. Xavier nodded as Allison stepped forward and took the man’s hand.
“Hello my dear. My name is Armand. I have a lot to share with you. I talked to Joshua’s father when I realized you were going there first and he agreed because of my association with your family to let me tell you the story of your parentage.”
“You knew my parents?” She looked at both men wide eyed.
“Oh yes my dear. I knew them both very well. Your mother was an exquisite woman Allison. Your parents were survivors of a dying pack. They were the last ones standing and decided to keep you far away from that way of life but knew that one day you would have to embrace it. They left something for you. Isabelle, bring the box please.”
Isabelle carried in a medium sized wooden box. He handed the box to her. “You should open this alone.” Both men stood to argue but he held up his hand. “Isabelle, show her to the bedroom please so she may have some privacy. You two men need to sit down so that we may have a talk. She needs to do this on her own. Although she may not know it, she needs some closure before she can move on with either of you. Give her this time then you may go to her.”
Allison looked at both men. “I will be fine. Please.” Both men nodded although you could tell by their looks that they did not like it at all.
Allison pulled the contents from the box. There were numerous pictures of her parents together when they were young and her as a baby and child. Her grandparents didn’t have any pictures of her as a baby, so it was good to finally have some. She pulled a picture out that was of two wolves standing beside each other. In front of them in a basket lay a baby she assumed was her. In the basket was a multi colored blanket and a small wooden toy. She looked in the box to find both objects also tucked safely inside.
There was also a white envelope inside with her name on it. Opening it she saw that there were two letters. They were in different handwriting and she finally realized they were letters to her. One was from her mother and one from her father. The door opened and the men walked in instantly rushing to her side. There were tears rolling down her cheeks as she told them about the letters. Her mother had told her that she loved her above everything else and she knew that she would be the daughter that she always dreamed of. She said if she was not there to see her on her wedding day and becoming a woman, to know she was looking down on her from above. Her father had told her to embrace her destiny. She was destined for great things and she should embrace her wolf side for it relayed who she was inside and out. He said that he had those close to the family watching her and she would always be protected from anyone. The three of them sat on the bed with her leaning on Josh as Xavier pulled her legs and feet on his lap. She felt hands in her hair softly as well as the caresses on her legs. She sat up and reached around behind her to grasp Joshua’s hand and leaned forward to kiss Xavier.
“Please. I need you both.” Then she leaned back and turned to kiss Josh. His hands instantly found the bottom of her shirt easing it off her as Xavier pulled her shorts and panties off in one swoop. Both men stood in front of her and stripped their clothes away as she stood up on her knees opening both arms to them. They both went willingly into her waiting arms. Jonathan eased onto the bed and laid her into his lap. She felt his hands caressing her breasts pulling and twisting and kissed along her ear and neck as Xavier kneeled between her legs. Rising up on his knees he pulled her legs up so that her knees were bent. Slowly he slid inside her. Soon he was picking up the pace and slid in and out of her with ease. She climaxed with a yell. As she lay there panting for breath the men switched places and soon she found herself under Josh with Xavier’s hands and mouth on her. Josh slid inside her and she felt herself stretch a little more for his size. She moved her hips to meet him for each thrust panting and crying out. She finally screamed her release right before his scream could be heard. The three of them lay there for what seemed like forever before they put their clothes back on. She slipped the contents back into the box from the chest at the edge of the bed and stood. They walked out together to the living room where Armand was waiting. Thank goodness she had stopped by the bathroom although she was sure that the older man knew what they had done even after Josh had straightened up the sheets. If what they said was true about smell then he must have smelled her arousal earlier. She was seeing that her senses were heightened as well since their first mating.
She walked to Armand and hugged him tight. “Thank you so much. I don’t know how to thank you really. How did you know my parents?”
“Your parents’ pack was the one next to mine a long time ago. Your father was the alpha and my best friend for many, many years. He gave me the box when they moved to the city and I promised him that no matter what it took, I would get the box to you. I am just glad to see that I lived long enough to see your season come to bloom. Now my dear comes the important part about your mate and the choice. Josh’s family have just arrived for the meeting to take place.”
“Meeting?”
Xavier looked at her sadly as did Josh when she turned to him. She knew then that they were going to force her to make a decision. She shook her head and sat down as a knock sounded at the front door. Josh’s family walked through the door towards them. Josh and Xavier stood in front of her as Armand spoke.
“Allison with your parents gone, I am your stand-in representative in all matters revolving around the wolves and their pack. We have never had the problem that we are now faced with in your situation. You are a princess of royalty in the packs and the last of your line. You are refusing to pick a mate between these two men, correct?”
“Yes that is correct. If I can’t have both of them then I want no one.”
“You know my dear if you do not mate, then you will die.”
“Yes I understand. And since I am such royalty as you say I am then maybe we should try to figure this out. Because I would rather die than give one of them up and have to choose.”